Category Archives: Football

Some Final Thoughts on Friday’s W

Football

We start with the quarterback, right?

Alway with the QB, isn’t that the imperative?

Yeah, but no. Though we’ll get to the Best Plumm(b)er in Town soon enough.

 * * * * *

First one more shout out to a couple of truly impressive TD grabs in paydirt.

Chris Bell showed strength and poise and focus on his. The one that counted, to pull the Cardinals within 3 at 7-10. Bell and the DB fought for the ball, and Bell won.

Then there’s the fantastic grab Jadon Thompson made in the farthest corner of the endzone that coulda shoulda woulda put U of L up 14-7. He fought DB Aydan White for the ball, while getting both feet on the turf before falling out of bounds yet retaining possession.

Bad call.

Cards settled for a 33 yard FG by Oscar-winner Brock Travelstead to tie the score at 10.

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Other passing game highlights that immediately come to mind: Continue reading Some Final Thoughts on Friday’s W →

U of L CardFile: NC State

Football

Were I more of a professional, not so disinclined to do actual research as to whether there is some symbiotic connection between Cardinals and Lions in nature, this would be a totally different, more informational lede.*

*Yes, I’m going to get get to the U of L victory over the Wolfpack in a sec. Bear with me in the flush of W(s).

Were I a better more pithy fashioner of phrasing, like, say, Charles Pierce or Ryan McGee*, this might be more to the point while still elegantly snarky.

*In yet another aside, which has absolutely nothing to do with the Cards gritty victory in Carter-Finley, I must share this brilliant bit of writing from ESPN’s McGee. Speaking of a center snap that caught Heisman holder Caleb Williams by surprise, the scribe said, “Oh, and he also received a direct snap that hit him right in the family planning aisle.” Wordsmithery of the highest order, there.

So, where am I going with this, ye Cardinal faithful are wondering? Here:

For the second time this season, I am basking in the glow of a Detroit Lion/ Louisville Cardinal Thursday night/ Friday night double W. (So too, Glorious Editor at the Chron, who happens for some reason to also be a Lions fan. My allegiance comes honestly, I was born in Motown, and have been longing for success since the days of Leon Hart, Joe Schmidt, Night Train Lane, Bobby Layne and Les Bingaman.)

So, yeah, on separate football weekends, the Lions won in Arrowhead and Lambeau in Thursday night previews to the University of Louisville Cardinals prevailing in Atlanta and on Tobacco Road on Friday.

Can I get a witness?

How ’bout a Huzzah! Continue reading U of L CardFile: NC State →

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week V

Football, Gaming

The nagging nabobs of naysaying who are continually on my case for not picking against the line, or picking games they feel are like shooting fish in barrel, have been eerily quiet of late.

Yoo hoo, dudes, you up or down at your new favorite sports book in town? Or, are you still bookin’ your bets with the barkeep at your country club?

No losing weeks, two weeks in a row of 4-1 pour moi.

And, allow me to pat myself on the back — as much as I can given a bum shoulder — I’ve taken some risks. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, to coin a phrase.

Last week, it bit me in the proverbial bum.

Thanks to some coaching gaffes of biblical proportion. The Irish lost with only ten men on the field. Not once but twice in the last minute. The Dabos lost because their mismanaging HC let the clock run out. (There are more details of these miscues and more in Monday’s Pigskin Pundit.

I picked both Notre Dame and Clemson to win. Sigh.

But the Cards won big. The Cats won. And Washington State beat Oregon State for the PAC2 championship.

3-2 for the weekend. 17-8 on the season.

This weekend’s winners: Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week V →

Pigskin Pundit: Let’s Talk Coaching

College Sports, Football

Coach Prime, meet Will Stein.

Unless you checked out some parochial school football during your stint on the Redbirds, you probably weren’t really aware of the former U of L Cardinal QB before this Saturday past.

One must presume you know his name now.

Stein’s Oregon Duck offense whomped your Buffalo D up one side of the head, then the other. A few shots to the solar plexus after that.

35 zip at the half. Then Will called off the Quack. Down 42, your guys finally put one in the endzone late, very late, garbage time.

 * * * * *

Speaking of coaching, how ’bout that Marcus Freeman? Continue reading Pigskin Pundit: Let’s Talk Coaching →

U of L CardFile: Boston College

College Sports, Football

It is obviously difficult to pick nits — or clean the burrs out of your shoes — when your team beats a conference foe with four touchdown 56-28 dispatch.

Yes, I’m most pleased, as I’m sure most of the Cards’ fans are.

But there are reasons for concern, mostly on the defensive side of the ball.

 * * * * *

But, first there’s these smile inducing observations.

In the first half, the Cards had six possessions. They scored six touchdowns.

To quote Ed Kallay, long time Louisville play by play guy a long time ago, “You can’t do much better than that.”

The last tally was the sweetest. With :33 on the clock before halftime, the Cards got the ball on their own 25, after BC had scored TDs on consecutive possessions.

As he did last week, when in a similar situation, Jeff Brohm called a timeout.

This time around the team lined up for a half ending kneel down.

Did you groan? I certainly did. Continue reading U of L CardFile: Boston College →

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week IV

College Sports, Football, Gaming

Yes, it is true.

Despite the reality that I have constantly chosen Graham Mertz as my perennial whipping boy, I picked the Gators to beat the Vols.

So they did. Rather easily actually.

Meanwhile I predicted that Pitt would win its brawl with West Virginia. Even though they lost to Cincy, who then lost to Miami (Oh). Forgetting all the while that the Panthers’ twice transferred TPQB Phil Jurkovec was a non entity at Notre Dame, then really bad at Boston College. I mean his mediocrity has made Mertz seem a legit Heisman hopeful.

Anyway Jurkovec did what he does in Morgantown, lose. My mistake.

North Carolina, Kentucky and the Cardinals all took care of biz, as it was stated would happen in this space.

Second 4-1 weekend in a row, making the kid 14-6 for the season.

This week’s winners: Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week IV →

U of L CardFile: Indiana

College Sports, Football

So there was Uncle Mo on the IU sideline at the beginning of the second half. He’d changed his garb into a crimson and cream hoodie.

Sharp-eyed observers of the game would have known something would be up. They’d have noticed that he was reaching into his duffle bag after that last play of the 2d Q.

Because what we have here is a classic case that would have been an A+ answer to  a question on Professor Chinstrap’s Psych 431 (Coaching Decisions and Game Momentum) final:

Give an example of how duel coaching decisions can totally turn a game around. Extra credit if both benefit the same team.

Totally dominating the interstate rivalry in the opening half, U of L, up 21 zip, got the ball back with :25 on the clock in the 2d.

HC Jeff Brohm called a timeout before 1st down.

Apparently to decide between taking a chance, and throwing deep. Or taking a knee.

The former made sense — to me anyway. The Cardinals have Jamari Thrash, who was breaking open deep with impunity. (And would have had two scores before halftime, had Jack Plummer gotten him the ball long when JT was wide open.)

The latter made less sense. But was somewhat defensible since U of L got the ball to start the 3d Q.

So, one guy’s take, gamble and throw it loooooooong. See what happens.

Brohm, usually wont to double down and raise rather than fold, but was obviously happy with a three TD cushion, folded. Greed might have been good.

Uncle Mo’s change of haberdashery was telling indeed. Continue reading U of L CardFile: Indiana →

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week III

College Sports, Football, Gaming

Not to boast or anything like that, your resident “expert,” it can now be said, has reached mid-season form before the Ides of September.

Four up. One down.

Were I to hazard a guess which game of those on the Board, I’d have missed, I’d never have considered the Longhorns would prevail in Tuscaloosa. By double digits, no less. First time that’s happened to The Nick while his roamed the Bama sideline.

But, as it is said, that’s why they play the game.

I’m sad the Johnny Rebs bested the Green Wave in New Orleans. But at least I picked it to happen. Cats did not roll, but overcame EKU, who just the week before surrendered 66 to the Cincy Satterfields. Angst in the Bluegrass?

The Cardinals, they did roll.

And, my guy, Bronconakurskius, Greek God of Pigskin, once again showed he’s paying attention, making sure that, when really necessary, he will make all right with the world, including Fansville. The U 48, the A & M Jimbo Bobby P’s 33. Thank yuh thank yuh vury much.

So, can I get a Huzzah!, 4-1 for the weekend. 10-5 for the season.

This week’s winners: Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week III →

The Pigskin Pundit: After Week II

College Sports, Football

For someone with yours truly’s rooting interests, last Thursday was as good as it gets.

U of L skunked Murray State, as it was supposed to.

And my (and Glorious Editor’s) Detroit Lions prevailed over the defending Super Bowl champs. In Arrowhead.

And, no, I’m not just a bandwagon jumper, just because the Lions are the Flavor of the Month. I’m a Motowner by birth, and long time suffering fan. If through the years, you’ve seen an old fart in the vegetable aisle of the grocery store sporting a well worn Honolulu blue and silver ball cap, it was likely moi. There are a few of us in town. But not many.

Plus there’s this. Beloved former Card Teddy B is Detroit’s backup QB.

Better to be a Lions fan than a Jets fan after Week I.

 * * * * *

The ACC stands four up one down to the League That Cares More. Continue reading The Pigskin Pundit: After Week II →

U of L CardFile: Murray State

Football

After the QB starter, back up, third string, fourth string, #5, #6, #7 #8 and #9 all took snaps in the Cardinals’ 56 zed laugher against Murray State, there was but one Louisville signal caller who didn’t get PT.

And, I swear, it would have been too cool.

If former Card now HC Jeff Brohm, and his former Card QB OC bro Brian had sent patriarch Oscar Brohm out to take an exclamation point knee on the last snap of the game, it wouldn’t have surprised me a bit.

HC Brohm on that situation: “Well my father Oscar was mad at me because he wanted to get 10 in but I told him that his eligibility had run up.”

From a football perspective, I hate these types of games generally.

They are rarely satisfying. Louisville either takes care of biz, learning little due to the nature of the foe. Or they underperform, indicating the team wasn’t ready to git ‘er done.

But, as that parade of backbenchers on both sides of the ball took to the gridiron in the 4th, the Louisville diehards, coaching staff and Brohm Brigade couldn’t help but smile.

So, let’s do a countdown. Continue reading U of L CardFile: Murray State →